Abstract
BackgroundIn 1985, a hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreak caused by plasmapheresis donation was reported in the Hebei Province, China. However, studies assessing the epidemic features and risk factors of HCV in the general population of Hebei have been limited until now.MethodsThe multicenter cluster sampling method was used to collect samples. The participants were interviewed. Relevant information was obtained from the general population using a standardized questionnaire, and association and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Serum samples were taken to test anti-HCV by enzyme immunoassays.ResultsA total of 4562 participants from 11 cities of the Hebei Province were enrolled. The average anti-HCV positive rate was 0.62% (29/4562), which was 1.07% in the rural population, compared with 0.22% in the urban population. The anti-HCV positive rate in the 40–59-year age group was higher than in those aged <40 years. History of blood transfusion and transmission in families were the main risk factors for HCV infection in this area.ConclusionThe anti-HCV positive rate in Hebei has decreased significantly from that two decades ago. Safety of blood products and health education about HCV still need to be improved.
Highlights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [1,2]
General features of participants A total of 4562 people were enrolled from 11 counties and 11 districts in the Hebei Province, of whom, 2308 (50.61%) were from the urban population, and 2254 (49.39%) from the rural population
The rate in the rural population was 1.07%, which was higher than that in the urban population (0.22%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI):0.03~0.42%)
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [1,2]. According to a multicenter epidemiological study in China between 1991 and 1995, the average HCV prevalence in the general population was 2.2% (range: 0.52–3.15%), amounting to approximately 26.4 million infected individuals [4]. In that survey it was found that the average anti-HCV positive rate in China was 3.2%, with 2.26% in the Hebei Province [5,6]. In the Hebei Province, HCV infection was first reported in 1985 in a serious outbreak incident caused by plasmapheresis donation [7,8]. In 1985, a hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreak caused by plasmapheresis donation was reported in the Hebei Province, China. Safety of blood products and health education about HCV still need to be improved
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